The marking ceremony was halfway through when I left my mate to assist my former mate, Vanessa, with a lactation issue. My inner wolf growled in protest, but I silenced it. Vanessa’s distress call couldn’t be ignored.

Ashlynn, my mate, rushed into the healing center of our pack, her dress swishing as she gripped the hem tightly. I was assisting Vanessa, my Alpha’s coat bearing milk stains, my gloved hand positioned near her chest.

Vanessa’s voice trembled. “The pup just can’t latch on, Alpha. I needed your help.”

I froze, turning to leave, but Vanessa playfully tugged at my tie. “The pup should really call you Father… you remember, that night, it was five times…”

As the door swung open, my eyes took in three things: the disheveled bed, my hand, and the blush on Vanessa’s face. Ashlynn stood there, her expression unreadable.

Both Vanessa and I were caught off guard. Vanessa hurriedly covered herself, her eyes reddening. “Luna Ashlynn… what are you doing here?”

I was startled, but my hand remained where it was. My wolf snarled in the back of my mind, urging me to explain, but the words stuck in my throat.

“Didn’t you say there was an emergency surgery?” Ashlynn’s voice was composed, but I could hear the strain beneath it.

I frowned and stood up, avoiding her gaze. “Vanessa had a blocked milk duct. It was painful, and I just…”

“Just?” Ashlynn laughed bitterly, her voice cracking slightly. “You, the Alpha of the pack, playing lactation consultant?”

“I am a healer, and I have professional ethics,” I replied, my voice steady. “Luna, you’re overreacting.”

Tears welled up in Ashlynn’s eyes. She was my Luna, my mate, and yet here I was, standing beside another she-wolf.

“I’m not overreacting. I’m stunned. My mate, not even through our marking ceremony, and here you are at the healing center with another she-wolf…”

Vanessa interjected softly, “Alpha, am I causing you trouble? I’m sorry, I didn’t realize today was your marking ceremony.”

Then she turned to Ashlynn. “Don’t blame the Alpha, blame me…”

She picked up the basket beside the bed, where a fair-skinned pup was sleeping peacefully.

“Whose pup is that?” Ashlynn asked through gritted teeth, seeking confirmation.

Vanessa hesitated, her eyes brimming with tears. “… No father.”

I reached out, blocking Vanessa. “He’s my son.”

Ashlynn was stunned, her breath hitching.

“We met once before she left the pack. Later, she told me she was pregnant… By then, I was already with you.”

“I know.” Ashlynn rubbed her abdomen, feeling the scar through her dress. “The night of the car accident, you were too drunk to even notice the headlights. I was the one who shielded you.”

“You signed the consent form to remove my uterus, Alpha. You marked me out of guilt.”

“I care for you,” I protested weakly, yet guilt shone in my eyes.

“And her?” Ashlynn stared at me, her voice breaking. “Do you love her?”

I opened my mouth but couldn’t utter a word.

Turning to Vanessa, Ashlynn asked, “You said the pup should call him Father, meaning you planned this all along, didn’t you?”

Vanessa lowered her eyes, silent for a moment before speaking quietly. “I just thought he had the right to know… But since you’re marked, I won’t interfere anymore. Luna Ashlynn, I truly envy you… at least you can love him openly.”

With that, she shook off my hand, scooped up her pup, and left.

I turned to follow her, but Ashlynn held me back, her voice hoarse. “Today is our marking day.”

I gently pried her fingers off me, impatience in my eyes. “The pup is innocent.”

“But I can’t have pups anymore! You know that!” She practically shouted, her voice echoing in the healing center.

I stopped, but only replied coolly, “This isn’t about whether you can have pups. He’s my son, and I have responsibilities.”

Ashlynn stood there, speechless. When she finally left the exam room, she saw down the corridor. I was holding Vanessa, wiping her tears and cradling the pup in my arms. We… looked like a real family.

Ashlynn’s hands clenched at her sides, then released.

Her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen:

“Visa approved, please confirm your travel within a week.”

She stared at those words for a long time.

This marking ceremony was the last chance I was giving us. But I didn’t cherish it.

Connor didn’t come home last night, and as I turned off my screen, I couldn’t help but laugh at myself for still clinging to hope.

Before we completed the mate bond, he once called out Vanessa’s name in his sleep.

Back then, I thought about leaving, but the usually stoic Alpha broke down when he heard I was considering it.

He admitted Vanessa had a place in his heart, but claimed it was just a small infatuation.

Then he marked me, promising that from then on, his heart would be completely mine.

And I believed him.

The Luna’s ceremonial dress hanging in the closet felt like the cruelest joke.

I started packing my bags.

One week. I planned to use this time to finish up my work, say proper goodby to Connor’s family, and leave with dignity.

At seven in the morning, Connor returned.

He looked exhausted, and when he saw me packing, he barely reacted.

“Luna,” he said, his voice low but commanding, the alpha tone barely hidden beneath his words.

“Where are you going?”

I didn’t reply, just zipped up the last suitcase.

He suddenly grabbed my wrist, his grip firm but not painful.

“Are you still upset? Last night I...”

“No. I just need to get away for a few days,” I interrupted, heading for the door.

He stepped in front of me, his broad frame blocking the exit with ease.

“You're not the kind of wolf who holds grudges.”

I met his gaze, my voice steady despite the storm inside me.

“True, I'm not. I'm just tired.”

He studied me, frustration etching his brow, and finally sighed, the alpha aura around him softening slightly.

“Maybe it’s good for you to get some fresh air. I'll take care of things here and at the pack’s healing center.”

I said nothing, slipped past him, and left.

By ten, I was standing at his family’s doorstep, feeling uneasy.

I remembered when I was in the healing center after the accident, and Melany, my mother-in-law, worried about me, knowing my parents were far away. She stayed by my side every night, making various nourishing stews.

She cried, “It’s the Alpha’s fault, but from now on, you are my daughter.”

Because of that, I already saw her as family.

Leaving her was the hardest part.

But just as I was about to knock, I heard familiar laughter coming from the slightly open door.

It was Melany.

...And Vanessa.

“Auntie, I never thought this pup would become part of the pack,” Vanessa said, her voice soft but carrying a hint of triumph.

Melany’s voice was kind, though I could hear the undercurrent of pack hierarchy in her tone: “You've done well raising your little one alone. This pup looks just like the Alpha when he was young.”

“Don’t worry, this pup will be the center of our pack’s attention. I plan to transfer this house to you and your daughter,” Melany said.

I froze in place, the gift box I had brought for Melany making a noise as it hit the door.

Melany opened the door, her expression changing instantly, but she quickly forced a smile, her eyes flickering with unease.

“Luna’s here…”

Vanessa stood, holding her pup, who was soft and pale, with clear, innocent eyes.

I wanted to look away, but I couldn't help but take a few more glances.

I really... love pups.

I always felt a surge of warmth when wrapping newborns in the healing center, feeling unlike myself.

Later, I even looked into the adoption process within the pack...

I steadied my voice and spoke slowly, careful to keep my tone respectful despite the turmoil inside me.

“Yes, I came to see you. I’m going on a trip soon, so I’ll have less time to visit you after that.”

She hesitated, then nodded quickly, her gaze flickering to Vanessa and the pup.

“That’s good. At your age, it’s the perfect time to focus on your duties to the pack.”

Her words “that’s good” pushed me further away.

She used to always insist that the Alpha and I stay together, unwilling to let me leave him.

She said that without me, her pack wouldn't be complete.

Now, my leaving was “that’s good.”

Vanessa kissed her pup’s forehead, her eyes full of warmth.

And I stood there, suddenly unable to say any of the farewells I had prepared.

The next day, I headed back to the pack’s healing center and spotted Vanessa in her white healer’s coat. I tapped her on the shoulder and introduced her to Ashlynn, my mate.

“Luna,” I said, addressing Ashlynn with the respect her title deserved, though my tone was softer than usual. “Vanessa’s back, and I’d like you to show her the ropes from now on.”

Ashlynn nodded, her expression unreadable. She didn’t say much, but I could sense her hesitation. Vanessa, however, wasted no time in offloading her workload onto her.

On the first day back, Vanessa called in sick. The second day, she handed her surgery case to Ashlynn. By the third day, she asked Ashlynn to cover her shift because Maggie had been crying all night...

Ashlynn did five surgeries back-to-back, her exhaustion palpable. When she finally asked for some time off, I turned her down. “Luna,” I said, my voice firm but not unkind, “Vanessa’s situation is tricky. Please support her.”

Ashlynn glanced at the overcrowded healing center, forcing a smile and nodding. “All right, Alpha. I’ll help.”

She helped until she didn’t even get a chance to grab a bite to eat, helped until she was crouched on the emergency staircase at night, sick to her stomach, while the world spun around her.

Eventually, she fell ill. A fever of 102 degrees, her stomach twisted with pain, and every breath seemed to hurt.

While dragging herself to another department to get medication, she bumped into Vanessa.

Vanessa looked vibrant and full of life. Upon seeing Ashlynn, she handed her the baby bottle she was holding. “Luna,” she said, her voice sweet but with an edge, “I was just looking for you. The staff told me you’re great at preparing baby formula. Maggie’s been crying for her dad all day, but you know the Alpha, he’s up to his ears in work. So, I hoped you could help me...”

Ashlynn returned the bottle, a painful throb pounding through her temples. “I’m not feeling well.”

Vanessa’s eyes instantly welled up with tears. “If you don’t like pups, you can just say so... There’s no need for excuses.”

I appeared behind Ashlynn at that moment.

With Maggie crying at the top of her lungs, my brow furrowed. My first words weren’t about Ashlynn’s constant overtime but rather a cold reprimand. “Luna, Vanessa is still getting back on her feet. Couldn’t you just lend a hand?”

Ashlynn’s heart sank. “Alpha, I have a fever, 102 degrees.”

I paused, touched her forehead. “Go home and rest. I’ll bring you your medication later.”

Vanessa spoke softly, her voice dripping with false sincerity. “I’m sorry. I panicked because the pup was upset, and maybe the Luna isn’t a fan of pups. I won’t ask for her help again...”

I sighed, picking up Maggie to calm her down. “A fever doesn’t warrant giving attitude. You’ve scared the pup.”

Ashlynn clenched her fists tightly, nails digging into her palms, keeping herself from losing control right there.

That night, in a feverish haze, she got a call from my mother, Melany.

“Luna,” Melany said, her tone gentle but firm, “Maggie... she’s a King family pup. You shouldn’t take out your frustrations on her.”

The fog in Ashlynn’s fevered mind cleared instantly, leaving her heart in icy pieces. “I didn’t.”

“Vanessa said you let Maggie cry all night... We’re not taking sides, but since you can’t have pups, you should try to be more open-hearted.”

Hanging up, the scar on Ashlynn’s abdomen throbbed, tears silently falling.

I entered then, removing the fever patch from her forehead, adjusting the blanket.

It’s always this way, my care hovering just above the surface.

Yet even if it’s only at the surface, I never see her tears.

In two days, she would be gone.